Problem solved at left tackle?

COLLEGE STATION — Texas A&M started its third player at offensive left tackle in three games on Saturday night against Alabama-Birmingham.

The third one might be the charm. The Aggies might have found a keeper in freshman Stephen Barrera after Saturday’s 56-19 victory over the Blazers. In fact, A&M coach Mike Sherman went out of his way to point out Barrera’s solid play following the game.

“He had a concussion in camp,” Sherman said of why Barrera didn’t get a faster start to this season. “It was a matter of time before we were going to get him on the field.”

The emergence of Barrera, who’s 6 foot 5 and nearly 300 pounds, helps the Aggies at not only tackle.

“It allows us to play Michael Shumard at his more natural position of guard,” Sherman said.

The Aggies, of course, will need Barrera to keep growing up in a hurry, with Arkansas on tap at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

“I don’t know if you have any idea how hard it is for a true freshman to start at left tackle, and Barrera really impressed me,” Sherman said. “He was pretty good in his protection and was assignment conscious. I also thought he played fairly physical, so that’s a good day for a freshman making his first start at left tackle.”

Barrera follows Danny Baker and Shumard as starters at left tackle so far this season. Barrera, who hails from Clear Lake, is a versatile enough athlete to play on either side of the line.

Looks like he’ll be sticking on the offensive side after Saturday. Sherman said the best indicator of Barrera’s solid debut came not in what he did, but what he didn’t do (to paraphrase the great Steve Wariner).

“I don’t remember yelling at him during the ball game,” Sherman said.

And for a freshman under the eagle-eye tutelage of the one-time A&M offensive line coach — that’s always a good thing.

Meanwhile Baker earned the start at right tackle against UAB in the absence of senior Lee Grimes (bruised ribs), who will probably be back this week.

So, when healthy, A&M’s starting offensive line shapes up like this: Barrera at left tackle, Shumard at left guard, Kevin Matthews at center, Matt Allen at right guard and Grimes at right tackle.